1 1 i.i .... A.
-Hi
NO. 8.
DEFENCE OP THE TIMES.
40
enta
tho Restoration, we find Unit this evil had
became worse. Tho writings of Congrcvc
or Wychcrley, although they were men of
muster minds, arc too low to be admitted
to the fumily circle, or even tho stugc, at
the present time; yot when written they
enjoyed the greatest popularity. Thus tho
fact, that writers of this class once enjoy
ed the highest reputation, but now are
almost unknown and unread, except by
the student of English literature, proves,
I think, a higher standard of morals and
refinement. But it may be urged that the
literature of tho present. is as bad as that I
have alluded to. "While I am forced to
admit that there is much in it that is bad
and debasing, I think this low style is
confined to second or third class writers,
and is not found among our best authors
as it was in former ages.
George Eliott's, Thackeray's or Charles
Dickens' works arc not filled with the
coarseness or half-hidden allusions that
disgrace tho pages of the great writers of
two centuries ago. This elevation in our
great writers can, I think, be accounted
for only by allowing that tho popular
taste has been elevated. Neither do we
have to go to tho field of literature to find
proofs that the world, on tho whole, in
stead of retrograding, is gradually advan
ing. Now, instead of settling every little of
fence by tho sword, arbitration is often
resorted to. War is begining to bo looked
down upon; rather than being hold up as
tho place whoro honor and renown maybe
gained, or where men may do their noblest
deeds. Neither is a strictly temperance
man any longer a curiosity; nay, lie oven
stands forth among the most honored. So
I think, that while there is much left that
Is bad in every department of life, there
is much cause for rejoicing over tho ad
vaucoment that has been made.
Walt.
KfimKtassffi :IM
MMtammmmmmmmBtmuimMmmmmmmMuSimmmmmmMMMKMmMLiimHMmimmi
. . ji -
fcyu
W
I,
r " .. t " 3 . . SX.L l -a.
i"
